10 Helpful Tips to Prevent Teeth Staining
10 Helpful Tips to Prevent Teeth Staining
While we all want a bright and radiant smile, dental stains can make teeth appear dull, yellow, and less luminous over time. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent teeth staining and even reverse discoloration. Our skilled Henderson and Las Vegas cosmetic dentistry specialists share tips on how to protect your smile from stubborn teeth stains.
1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
The most important way to keep your smile pearly white and healthy is to brush and floss regularly. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day will remove harmful bacteria that can cause plaque and tartar buildup. Pigment from foods and drinks can cling to this buildup and make teeth appear discolored. Brushing and flossing also removes surface stains from the teeth that dull the smile.
2. Use a Straw for Drinking
Some beverages are dark and acidic and can wreak havoc on your teeth. Drinks that can potentially cause visible dental stains include:
● Coffee
● Tea
● Dark cola
● Red wine
● Fruit juice
While it is not always possible, try to use a straw when drinking these beverages. A straw allows you to minimize exposure of stain-causing liquids to the teeth, which will ultimately prevent discoloration. If you do not have a straw, drink your beverage quickly while trying to avoid holding the liquid in your mouth.
3. Add Milk to Your Coffee or Tea
When you indulge in a cup of coffee or tea, it is actually beneficial to add milk to it. Studies have shown that adding milk to tea or coffee can create a protective layer that keeps pigment from adhering to the teeth. Casein, a key protein found in dairy products, prevents the tannins from staining the teeth when compared to coffee or tea without cow’s milk.
4. Rinse Your Mouth After Eating
An easy thing to do to protect your teeth from stains is to rinse your mouth with water after meals and snacks. A quick rinse helps to clear away food particles that can hide between teeth and under the gum line. If left there, bacteria can grow and eat away at tooth enamel, leaving your smile vulnerable to tooth decay and discoloration.
5. Drink More Water Throughout the Day
You may have heard that staying hydrated is good for your body, but drinking more water is actually beneficial for your oral health as well. When you are dehydrated, you may experience dry mouth because your body does not have enough fluid to produce sufficient saliva.
Saliva is essential for a healthy mouth. It helps to break down food, rinse away bacteria, and keep the mouth from becoming too acidic. Additionally, studies have shown that proteins in saliva can prevent enamel staining by polyphenols found in wine and tea. Staying hydrated can help you reap these benefits.
6. Snack on Fruits and Crunchy Vegetables
Many fruits and raw vegetables naturally clean and scrub teeth as you chew them, clearing away buildup that can lead to dental teeth staining. Some fruits, including strawberries, even contain ingredients like malic acid that may help to whiten teeth.
If you are looking for a healthy snack that may also enhance your smile, consider these options:
● Apples
● Strawberries
● Papayas
● Watermelon
● Celery
● Carrots
7. Switch to an Electric Toothbrush
If you are looking to maximize your at-home dental routine, you may want to ditch your manual toothbrush and switch to an electric one. An electric toothbrush is more effective at removing plaque from the teeth, which lowers the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. It may also help to remove more surface stains because the brush head spins at high speeds to polish the teeth better than an ordinary toothbrush.
8. Quit Smoking or Vaping
Smoking is incredibly harmful to your teeth and gums. It reduces oxygen flow in the mouth, which often results in serious gum disease and tooth decay. As these conditions worsen, they can lead to bone infections, tooth loss, and other irreversible dental issues.
Additionally, the nicotine and tar found in cigarettes cause teeth to turn yellow, brown, and, in severe cases, black. Vaping and e-cigarettes can also stain teeth because of the nicotine and chemicals found in the vaping liquid. If you habitually smoke or vape, you are likely to experience dental discoloration.
While it can be difficult to stop smoking, the benefits of quitting are overwhelming. Not only are you lowering your risk of lung disease and heart conditions, but you are also improving your dental health and the appearance of your smile!
9. Chew Sugarless Gum
Another way to keep your teeth looking bright and white is to chew on sugarless gum. While some gum brands claim to whiten teeth, what they are really doing is helping to stop discoloration before it starts. Chewing sugarless gum can lift away stain-causing food particles from the teeth’s surface.
Also, chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which is your body’s natural way of keeping your mouth clean. The saliva lowers acidity levels to protect tooth enamel while rinsing away bacteria that cause plaque and potential discoloration.
10. See Your Dentist for Routine Cleanings
Routine dental cleanings are necessary for a strong and beautiful smile. During a teeth cleaning, the dentist or hygienist removes hard tartar and polishes the teeth with a polishing toothpaste. This process removes surface stains and gives your smile a brighter appearance.
Most people have their teeth cleaned twice a year. However, some people may need more frequent cleanings to stay on top of their oral health. Work with your dentist to see how often you should have dental cleanings to keep your teeth looking their best.
Schedule a Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment
Even with brushing, flossing, and regular dental care, teeth can become stained. If you are tired of hiding your smile and want to whiten your teeth, Las Vegas Aesthetic Dentistry offers professional teeth whitening treatments in our beautiful Henderson office. Just one application of our powerful whitening agents can brighten your smile by several shades!
Contact us to schedule a whitening session or to ask our team about other cosmetic dentistry treatments, including Invisalign and porcelain veneers. Dr. Tati and our team are ready to give you the smile makeover you deserve.